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Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe

Burnam W. Reynolds

The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity, occurring in the golden glint of the sunset of the Ancient World, was not a concluding chapter but an opening one. The sequential conversion of the barbarian tribal invaders of the Empire and the subsequent conversion of those beyond the old imperial limes was the making of European culture, a prototypical Christendom. The process has been well studied from the perspective of kings, popes, and missionaries by some of the finest historians of our era. But the missing component in this civilizational change is that of the decisive influence of barbarian queens, Christian women who led their royal husbands in the dangerous journey from one religion to another. In recent years, much has been done to illuminate queenship in general, but a study focusing specifically on the queen’s role in conversion is lacking. This book seeks to remedy that and provide a missing piece in women’s history.

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Lexington Books
Pages: 268 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
978-1-4985-8498-2 • Hardback • November 2024 • $115.00 • (£88.00)
978-1-4985-8499-9 • eBook • November 2024 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
Subjects: History / World, History / Europe / Medieval, History / Women

Burnam W. Reynolds is professor emeritus of history at Asbury University.

Part I: The Legacy and the Pattern

Chapter One

The Falling and the Rising

Chapter Two

The Conversation of the Wives

Chapter Three

Conversion and the Sources

Part II: Preconditions and Impediments

Chapter Four

What is Conversion?

Chapter Five

What is a “Barbarian”?

Chapter Six

No Queen Without a Kingdom

Chapter Seven

The Complications of Violence

Part III: Cases

Case One

The Eldest Daughter

Case Two

‘The Most Glorious Queen’: From Ingund to Baddo

Case Three

A Man from Kent

Case Four

The Widow’s Choice

Case Five

“Tata Goes North”

Case Six

Dueling Easters

Case Seven

“Queens in the Mist”

Case Eight

“Morta and Mindaugas”

Coda: Concluding Thoughts

"Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe engages with an enduring question – what made medieval queens such staples of conversion stories? Burnam Reynolds expertly unpacks the complex web of ties that placed ruling women of the post-Roman world in a position to influence the religious, political and cultural trajectories of whole nations. Beginning with an overarching discussion of the sources and the challenging phenomenon of religious conversion, the book deftly alternates between theory and practice, discussing case by case both famous and obscure queens and their impact on their respective societies. With lucid prose, the book pans from the westernmost kingdoms of early medieval Britain to the continental Franks, Visigoths and Lombards, on to Bohemia, concluding with the latest European conversion of the Lithuanians. It is an enjoyable and illuminating read for anyone interested in the Christian conversion of Europe and the role of queens therein."


— Yaniv Fox, Bar-Ilan University


Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity, occurring in the golden glint of the sunset of the Ancient World, was not a concluding chapter but an opening one. The sequential conversion of the barbarian tribal invaders of the Empire and the subsequent conversion of those beyond the old imperial limes was the making of European culture, a prototypical Christendom. The process has been well studied from the perspective of kings, popes, and missionaries by some of the finest historians of our era. But the missing component in this civilizational change is that of the decisive influence of barbarian queens, Christian women who led their royal husbands in the dangerous journey from one religion to another. In recent years, much has been done to illuminate queenship in general, but a study focusing specifically on the queen’s role in conversion is lacking. This book seeks to remedy that and provide a missing piece in women’s history.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 268 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
    978-1-4985-8498-2 • Hardback • November 2024 • $115.00 • (£88.00)
    978-1-4985-8499-9 • eBook • November 2024 • $50.00 • (£38.00)
    Subjects: History / World, History / Europe / Medieval, History / Women
Author
Author
  • Burnam W. Reynolds is professor emeritus of history at Asbury University.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Part I: The Legacy and the Pattern

    Chapter One

    The Falling and the Rising

    Chapter Two

    The Conversation of the Wives

    Chapter Three

    Conversion and the Sources

    Part II: Preconditions and Impediments

    Chapter Four

    What is Conversion?

    Chapter Five

    What is a “Barbarian”?

    Chapter Six

    No Queen Without a Kingdom

    Chapter Seven

    The Complications of Violence

    Part III: Cases

    Case One

    The Eldest Daughter

    Case Two

    ‘The Most Glorious Queen’: From Ingund to Baddo

    Case Three

    A Man from Kent

    Case Four

    The Widow’s Choice

    Case Five

    “Tata Goes North”

    Case Six

    Dueling Easters

    Case Seven

    “Queens in the Mist”

    Case Eight

    “Morta and Mindaugas”

    Coda: Concluding Thoughts

Reviews
Reviews
  • "Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe engages with an enduring question – what made medieval queens such staples of conversion stories? Burnam Reynolds expertly unpacks the complex web of ties that placed ruling women of the post-Roman world in a position to influence the religious, political and cultural trajectories of whole nations. Beginning with an overarching discussion of the sources and the challenging phenomenon of religious conversion, the book deftly alternates between theory and practice, discussing case by case both famous and obscure queens and their impact on their respective societies. With lucid prose, the book pans from the westernmost kingdoms of early medieval Britain to the continental Franks, Visigoths and Lombards, on to Bohemia, concluding with the latest European conversion of the Lithuanians. It is an enjoyable and illuminating read for anyone interested in the Christian conversion of Europe and the role of queens therein."


    — Yaniv Fox, Bar-Ilan University


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